May 18, 2021 Monthly Meeting
THE MAY MEETING will be held via Zoom. A zoom link will be sent closer to the date of the meeting. Look for it in your email inbox!
PROGRAM: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Bats...But Were Afraid to Ask!
with Luanne Johnson and Liz Olson, Wildlife Biologists, Biodiversity Works
PROGRAM: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Bats...But Were Afraid to Ask!
with Luanne Johnson and Liz Olson, Wildlife Biologists, Biodiversity Works
ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
Bats play a very important role in many ecosystems by controlling insect populations, which is a valuable service to humans. Historically, Northern Long-eared Bats were one of the most abundant bat species in New England. Tragically, their populations have declined since the arrival of a cold-loving fungus that causes white noise syndrome. However, there is a glimmer of hope for the bats on Martha’s Vineyard and in other coastal areas. Biodiversity Works’ wildlife biologists, Luanne Johnson and Liz Olson will present findings from their project on Northern Long-eared Bats that they began in 2014 as well as share information on MV bat species, their biology, habitat needs, conservation and general myths about bats.
Bats play a very important role in many ecosystems by controlling insect populations, which is a valuable service to humans. Historically, Northern Long-eared Bats were one of the most abundant bat species in New England. Tragically, their populations have declined since the arrival of a cold-loving fungus that causes white noise syndrome. However, there is a glimmer of hope for the bats on Martha’s Vineyard and in other coastal areas. Biodiversity Works’ wildlife biologists, Luanne Johnson and Liz Olson will present findings from their project on Northern Long-eared Bats that they began in 2014 as well as share information on MV bat species, their biology, habitat needs, conservation and general myths about bats.
ABOUT LUANNE AND LIZ:
Luanne Johnson and Liz Olson are wildlife biologists at Biodiversity Works, a non-profit that focuses on wildlife research and monitoring and mentoring young people interested in the field of wildlife biology and science. They work with a variety of species like beach-nesting birds, snakes, turtles, and bats. Luanne and Liz fell into bat work in 2014 when a Northern Long-eared bat was found in a bird box at the Hoft Farm Field station. At this point this species had all but disappeared from the rest of Massachusetts. This discovery led them to dive into the bat world, researching where these bats were on the Vineyard and why.
Luanne Johnson and Liz Olson are wildlife biologists at Biodiversity Works, a non-profit that focuses on wildlife research and monitoring and mentoring young people interested in the field of wildlife biology and science. They work with a variety of species like beach-nesting birds, snakes, turtles, and bats. Luanne and Liz fell into bat work in 2014 when a Northern Long-eared bat was found in a bird box at the Hoft Farm Field station. At this point this species had all but disappeared from the rest of Massachusetts. This discovery led them to dive into the bat world, researching where these bats were on the Vineyard and why.
2021 Program Committee:
Members: Minor Knight, Mary Lou DeLong, Kathy Kitsock and Anda Woodward.
Members: Minor Knight, Mary Lou DeLong, Kathy Kitsock and Anda Woodward.